Those who discuss rape on TV have links with porn: Mamata

Kolkata, June 21: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who came under strong criticim for misbehaving with the local people in Kamduni village in Barasat where she had gone to visit the distressed family of a 20-yar-old student who was raped and murdered on June 8, on Thursday took a dig at the "so-called intellectuals and social workers" who discussed rape on TV channels. She alleged that many of those people were themselves associated with pornography.

Addressing a panchayat election meeting, Banerjee said many of the eminent people who dress up and appear on TV talk shows everyday to discuss rape with great relish are associated with pornography.

Mamata Banerjee said in an election meeting in Galsi in Burdwan that many of the "so-called intellectuals and social workers" who went on television to discuss rape in Bengal were "associated with pornography".

The CM, who accused a leading media house in the state of conspiring to kill her along with the Opposition, said some news channels worked for the CPI(M) and the intellectuals and social workers who take part in the talk-shows on these channels insult the mothers and sisters and even brothers. She said many young people were being spoilt by such discussion.

She slammed the social workers, saying the latter have never done any social service in their lives. She mocked the talk shows as 'taka' shows (money shows).

The CM also hit out at the Centre for making her government pay for the debt incurred by the previous Left government. She criticised the Food Security bill, saying it would never be able to provide food to the poor.